Project Description:

Protolaunch is a chemical propulsion startup developing new thruster technology for in-space mobility targeted for In-Orbit Servicing and Manufacturing markets. Protolaunch operates a dedicated Propulsion Test Facility located at E-Site, Westcott Venture Park, Buckinghamshire, UK with a nearby office also located at the Venture Park. Protolaunch is a very small team of <10 people.

Protolaunch intends to conduct an intensive testing and qualification campaign of its in-space thrusters throughout the summer of 2024. During this testing and qualification campaign, a large series of iterative design, manufacturing and testing cycles will be conducted. This internship is an opportunity to be involved in these design cycles, where a successful candidate will get the opportunity to contribute to the full system modeling, simulation and design optimisations of these thrusters.

As well as being involved in wider qualification work, this project will specifically focus on interpreting X-Ray CT data of metal additive parts to compare real-world geometry to actual test data and compare theoretical pressure losses in cooling channels to experimental data.

A software tool will be built that can ingest ~70GB X-Ray CT data per engine and compare theoretical design geometry to the actual built part and identify how deviations in fluid paths can be matched with real-world experimental data.

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Applicant Specification:

Student, preferably final year undergraduate in engineering, maths, physics, or equivalent. Applicant should be enthusiastic and willing to get stuck into hands-on, difficult problems which they won’t have had much experience with before. We are actively hiring so options to apply for a fulltime role are feasible.

Minimum requirements:

• Good written and verbal communication skills.

• Undertaken a course on fluid mechanics.

• Experience with Python.

• Desirable requirements:

  • Experience with CAD software e.g. Solidworks.

  • Previous hands-on experience from a project requiring use of manual tools etc.

Process details:

• 8 weeks minimum fixed term contract to be agreed with successful candidate

• In-person Induction Event to be held on [date], and an in-person/hybrid Showcase Event to be held at the [place/date]

• 5 days holiday to be taken during the placement

How we work:

We strive to create a high trust environment that enables team members to bring their whole selves to work – this helps to create the foundations of an innovation culture.

This job description set outs the skills and experience we believe are needed to be able to do this job but, research also tells us women are much more likely than men to take this list of requirements as absolute and self-select out of the process. If you think you can deliver this role then we want to hear from you, regardless of the boxes you didn’t tick.